1871.] PRESENTATION TO MR W. THOMSON. 329 



not but satisfy Mr Milne for all his trouble as regards the training. 

 Will you, Mr Editor, or any of your correspondents, be good enough 

 to state which is the proper mode of training ? "VVe saw Balsams at 

 different shows in Lancashire last summer trained as Chrysanthemums 

 are in Scotland, and we think the system highly objectionable, as they 

 look unsightly unless they are shouldered up by a Geranium or two to 

 hide their bare legs. Wm. Hinds. 



Child WALL Lodge, Liverpool. 



DINNER AND PRESENTATION TO MR THOMSON, 

 DALKEITH GARDENS. 



Ox the 31st May a complimentary dinner was given to Mr W. Thomson on the oc- 

 casion of his leaving Dalkeith Gardens to superintend his extensive vineyards on 

 Tweedside ; and a presentation was made to him of 200 sovereigns, and a hand- 

 some service of silver plate, richly chased, and bearing Mr Thomson's initials. 

 The silver plate bore the following inscription : — " Presented, along with a purse 

 of two hundred sovereigns, to "\Vm. Thomson, Esq., on the occasion of his leav- 

 ing Dalkeith Gardens to superintend bis extensive vineyards on Tweedside, by a 

 number of attached friends in Scotland, England, and Ireland, to mark the high 

 regard in which they hold him — on personal, professional, and public grounds ; 

 and the warm wishes they entertain for his future success and happiness. May 

 31, 1871." The meeting was held in Waterloo Hotel. 



The Chairman said — I come now to the toast of the evening — the health 

 of our esteemed and respected guest. The propriety of the course we are now 

 taking need scarcely be pointed out, for I have met with no one to whom this 

 very course did not suggest itself the moment Mr Thomson's purpose of leaving 

 Dalkeith became known. It could not be otherwise. The position Mr Thomson 

 had so long occupied in Dalkeith, the many friendships he had there formed, and 

 the numberless obligations he had conferred on the town, rendered it indispens- 

 able, not only that there should be some such public leave-taking as the present, 

 but that he should carry with him to his new home some visible and tangible 

 expression of the affection with which he was regarded in the home he had left. 

 Nor were these feelings confined to Dalkeith. Before the friends there had taken 

 any forward step towards the result we now witness, application was made to 

 them by friends in Edinburgh asking to be allowed to take part in any demonstra- 

 tion that might be resolved on, calling attention to the fact that Mr Thomson's 

 friends were not confined to this county, or even to this island, and suggesting 

 that these warm and widely-scattered friends should be made aware of the move- 

 ment that was in progress. It has been the aim of the committee to give efiect 

 to this suggestion, and the result may be very briefly stated. The testimonial 

 about to be presented is the joint-contribution of 300 individuals, resident in 

 Scotland, England, and Ireland ; and it is but right to say that the value of these 

 contributions has been much enhanced by the friendly and affectionate terms in 

 which, when transmitting them, they have referred to the character and claims 

 of Mr Thomson. The subscriptions handed to the treasurers amount to £330 ; 

 and this amount, partly in gold and partly in silver plate — deducting, of course, 

 the necessary expenses and the gifts for the Misses Thomson — it will be my privilege, 



